Blokestradamus

I'll say 1-3. We'll make mistakes and have something to work on leading into the season. Kinda like Ronald Darby last year, we'll be better for having the miscues early.

Hey Bandit, another Tony Conner video went up earlier - http://draftbreakdown.com/video/tony-conner-vs-arkansas-2015/ I'll also have a piece out tomorrow for Cover1.net on some of the top 2017 wide receivers. I can feel the excitement from you guys already!

If the team was committed to finding a solution, they would've signed someone different than Marshall Morgan as a UDFA. Morgan is actually worse on kickoffs than Carpenter. Other teams have different values on touchbacks, directional kicking, importance of ST. Some, from the look of their stats, don't care one bit about things like hang time. I guess the Bills feel that they need every advantage they can get because of the style that they play. It's also hard to find a nuanced kicker that can be reliable doing both because it's still not recruited properly at the college level. I would guess that most kickers stumble into it late in HS after failing to make the grade as a soccer player. I've not kicked for goal since my rugby days half a lifetime ago but I think I could land an NCAA scholarship with a bit of practice. The standard is shocking, even at powerhouse schools.

From Pro Football Reference - "The #Bills gave up 17.2 yards per kick return, the lowest total in the league". I've built the case for Jordan Gay a million times and I know that 5% of people give a ****, even less can be swayed by me. If you're a team that values special teams, which the Bills seem to do, you know that Dan Carpenter and his line drive kickoffs are bad for you. Jordan Gay is a necessary evil in the field position battle but I'd rather just find a kicker that can do both. Colton Schmidt had 34 touchbacks on 62 kickoffs at UC Davis. If the team felt he was capable, I'm fairly sure he would be taking them. For whatever reason, they don't. Jordan Gay = good. Deal with it. The kicking game is a beautiful thing but I'm fighting a losing battle with a country that seems to think the other football is some kind of Communist plot. Under this idea, what if you go "4 and out" before making a first down? Are you content seeing a team turn the ball over inside their own 35 yard line?

Never felt that I was looking at a great NFL prospect with Striker. I hope he can carve out a niche somewhere in certain packages and on special teams. The game needs good guys to succeed and he seems to be one. I just feel that objectivity with him is something the fan base struggles with, as with James Wilder.

I'm anticipating McCoy, K Williams, Bush, J Williams, Gillislee (cut after week 4 to allow Karlos back in). McCoy is safe, they didn't pay Bush and use draft capital on the Williamseseses for nothing.

I will see that prophecy fulfilled. Nick Novak is an okay kicker and he's costing them vet minimum, no financial pressure for the Texans to offload him for Fairbairn. Teams tend to favour vets, some inherent distrust of young kickers. Still think he makes a ton of sense for the Bills.

I think Doug Martin > Trent Richardson was my first real draft hot take. I got so much crap for that at the time.

Bills fans will love him. Right up until they realise he's another long jumper.

They'll pick up Fairbairn when Houston stupidly cuts him. The prophecy will be fulfilled.

I just hope he's found safe and well. It's obvious that he needs help in a bad way.

I'm sure I'd feel a little differently if I could attend but it's a process. Not everyone is at the same level at this point and, as you said, mistakes will happen. Really doesn't help with the era of social media with "fans" getting on the back of a player over one mistake. Personally, I take note of personnel trends etc. but I let my mind be swayed on players through preseason games.

Am I the only one that feels like we shouldn't know this stuff? I mean, we're not privy to practice any other time so why now? I get that it's a great thing for fans and all, just very different to what I'm used to with the sports I grew up with.

I like to think of myself as rational when I fall on the negative side of the popular opinion. If I'm truly negative on a subject, you'll know.

Could they surprise and cut Felton? They didn't use the FB all that much last year. Could have a guy like Annen double up as situational TE/H-Back/FB?

5 fumbles on 100 punt returns. Only averages a fumble every 64.6 touches as a runner/receiver though.

It's kinda weird because this is so right and so wrong all at once. The market sets itself but with no idea of merit. Just because the Texans were stupid, doesn't mean that other teams should be.

I'm not sure it would happen either but Tyrod has bet on himself before. I'd be surprised if it happens but Tyrod is one confident chap.

I'd love a Kaepernick style deal. One that basically guarantees the base salary every year until 2018. Kaepernick is essentially two years into a 6 year deal and his dead money for 2017 if he's cut is less than $5m. That deal is genius.

I really doubt they'd be doing this now for another body at RB. Sounds like he'll have the PR job wrapped up, barring an injury.

8 punt returns since 2010, at 31 years old, coming off a nasty knee injury. I try and say nice things about Doug but he really does confuse me at times.

Been waiting for the addition of a big body. DL depth looks a little more balanced, can get guys more reps at 3/5 instead of playing them out of position at 0/1.

GM just got a new deal. QB that's proved nothing got that payday. Big problem if they can't get Brock in rhythm with him.

Tis the most wonderful time of the year.

I think you have to bear in mind that Greg Roman doesn't set up to pass heavily. His 4 years in San Francisco, he averaged 447 pass attempts a season (27.9 per game). Last year we averaged 29 attempts per game. Points against 49er defenses were: 229 (2011), 273 (2012), 272 (2013), 340 (2014). In 2015, the Bills conceded 359 points. Guess which years those teams went 8-8. This brand of football is a team effort. The defense has to be stingy and the offense has to control the ball, control the clock. It's not perfect, it's probably not what most of us want to see but it is what it is. If we're passing 30 times a game, it's likely that we've not seen the defensive improvement we hope is coming.